R.L. Francis

R.L. Francis resides in India and is the President of the Poor Christian Liberation Movement. You can reach him at
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Media and market have become busy in marketing of Valentines Day. Economic experts believe that market has crossed Rs 1200 crore in India and the growth rate is 20 percent every year. It is to be noted that half of the population of the country is youth. The supporters of Valentines Day portray-the opponents of Valentines Day as a villain and media helps them in doing so.

In the last few years, some ‘so called protectors of Indian culture’ used to make hype against Valentines Day Celebrations on the street. These incidents resemble more as a stage managed event and nothing else. Such kind of distortions in culture cannot be stopped by cosmetic processes.

No religion and reformist movement in the world supports such blatant display of uninhibited sexual desire. However, this has become a norm in the name of modern life. There is some kind of sanctity attached to male-female relationship. Families are breaking- and it is a cause for concern in the western society.

We do not know about Justice Niyogi report. Anti-conversion bill is an attack on our freedom. D. P. Wadhwa report is a bunch of lies. Justice S C Mahapatra Commission report seems to have rightists influence, so it is not even worth to discuss.

After saying all this, now the Church has shown their displeasure about comments made by the two learned judges in the murder case of Graham Stains and his two children. Their logic is: it will have bad effect on Kandhamal case.

Church denies everything that raises finger on their functioning. Questions are being asked about the functioning of Church and many agencies and organisations have found them guilty of conversion. However, Indian Church thoroughly rejects such reports. Recently, Supreme Court has commented on Church and now Church leaders should introspect.

India became republic six decades ago but there are many questions before us. Being a sovereign and secular republic every citizen of India is equal before law. Constitution will not discriminate on the basis of post, power or social status.

However, we have grossly failed in doing that. Constitution has become hostage of corrupt bureaucrats, politicians and criminals and powerful persons. This is republic for powerful persons and common man is suffering.

We failed to develop an equitable model of development in the last six decades. We created islands of developments, prosperity and neglected most of the areas. We are bragging about 9-10 percent GDP rate and do not even want to discuss about 75 percent of population. This population is living on the minimum daily wage of less than 40 rupees. We have made 11 five-year-plans and are preparing for twelfth. If poor people are not getting benefits then who have taken benefit.

Those who always cry hoarse on Kashmir regarding violations of human rights and shed crocodile tears should also pay heed towards how minorities in Pakistan are being treated. Pakistan has a medieval ears law Blasphemous Act and under this act a mother of five children Asia Bibi has been given death sentence and so called saviours of human rights are silent. This is not the first instance when a non-Muslim has been punished under barbaric law. In 1994, a Christian youth Salamat Masih was punished under this act and this had attracted worldwide attraction.

This barbaric law was enacted during regime of Jia-ul-Haq and initially punishment was confined to life imprisonment only which was later increased to death sentence during Nawaj Sharif’s tenure in 1992. Under this act if any non-Muslim criticises Mohammad Sahib or Islam, he will be given death sentence. However, if any Muslim criticises other religions and their scriptures such as Guru Granth Sahib or Gita or Bible; he cannot be punished. In this way this act is discriminatory in nature and this law is being used to harass minorities in Pakistan for the last two decades.

Two-years-ago Christians and number of Tribals had suffered heavy loss due to riots in Kandhamal. Thousands of them were displaced from the homes and had to migrate at other safe places. However, their lives are slowly coming on track. And, why only Orissa Christians have not normal ties with other faiths be it Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and eastern states.

Conversion has been source of major contention between Christianity and other dominant faith in this country. However, in stead of dousing the fire, section of church is trying to fulfill its vested interest by raising the issue in foreign countries. Christians, at this auspicious festival of Charismas, have to retrospect that how their ties with other religions can become normal and how we can make lives of disciples better in India.

Crores of dalits, tribes and other marginalised people have opted for church with great hope but it is quite unfortunate that in stead of reforming lives of these people church is busy in the expansion of its imperialism. Church has ample resources but still it is leaving its disciples at the mercy of government. Justice Ranganath Misra Commission is merely a glimpse of intention of church. Church wants to kill two birds with one stone.

Indian politics has divided the society more than it has united. Politicians have fragmented the society in various castes, class, religious groups in order to solidify their vote banks. Slogans of communalisation and secularisms have been invented by them. Only those parties are ruling over the society who have proved themselves as saviour of minorities. The result is very much to see. Hatred among communities has increased and it has reached to the level of animosity. The situation is now explosive. Every body has closed its door and they want to have a price of their vote at any cost. Minorities (Muslim and Christian) have threatened it implement Rangnath Misra Commission Report with immediate effect otherwise they will show their strength in the next parliamentary elections.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have always alleged UPA of adopting policy of appeasement towards minorities. All other parties which include communists and Congress have labeled RSS as anti-minority. Due to growing terrorism in the country thousands of people lost their lives. A particular section of people have been caught in large numbers engaged in Pakistan sponsored proxy-war. Due to strict measures of security forces; secular parties sometimes feel threatened. Then, these parties raise questions on the functioning of security forces. And irony is that security forces are governed by these same parties.